KennyK said..
Hi,
Looking at getting into either wind surfing or kite surfing, and want to hear from those who have done both.
Which do you prefer and why?

BTW, I am 51 years old and have surfed for 40 years and done some sailing, so expect to pick either up reasonably easy.

Cheers,
Ken.

Answers being kite in kite forum and wind in wind forum I would assume
Kiting has less gear involved, less wear on body, potentially slightly less safe

KennyK said..
Hi,
Looking at getting into either wind surfing or kite surfing, and want to hear from those who have done both.
Which do you prefer and why?

BTW, I am 51 years old and have surfed for 40 years and done some sailing, so expect to pick either up reasonably easy.

Cheers,
Ken.

Ok your 51, which istnt that old, but still, Windsurfing if you just want to mow the lawn as they say, thats going back and forth is probably OK and easy enough to achive,

Wave sailing is hard work, its a full body work out, you have to be more than just fit to be any good it takes a lot out of you.

Kite surfing is a lot easier to learn, and then later to actually do some simple tricks like rotations etc.

Wave kiting is also a lot easier and you can get a lot more out of small waves.

It all depends on where you live of course and how much wind your spot gets.

Your sailing back ground probably counts for zilch in both sports unless your into racing and the tactics, the surfing helps a bit

Kite. Everyone else is doing it. Must be something in that, and you only live once ...

1) Hardly any gear to carry - you don't need a Merc van to lug all your gear. Walk to the spot the kite on you back and board under your arm.
2) Kites need less wind to get on the plane, and when you jump you glide along, looking 360-degrees, whle a windsurfer gets a brief look at the sky, before plummeting out of it.
3) There's the option to 'surf', and there are plenty of guys 10-20 years older than you doing downwinders and lounging around in car parks afterwards drinking beers before the 'young-uns' rock up to 'do' their Gen-Y knees doing epiliptic TT tricks.
4) As a surfer, just Youtube 'kite surfing strapless' or 'Kite surfing Coronation Beach', and then decide.
5) But yes, potentially more dangerous, but only in the learning stages and when you get too cock-sure, by which time those guys in the car park will bring you down a peg or two.

Apart from that, I think the French still think windsurfing is cool. Go figure.

Disclosure: I used to windsurf and sail, cats, but having a 360-degree view of the sea when belting along on a kite was a revelation.

LostDog said..
howtowindsurf101.com/windsurfing-vs-kitesurfing/

Thanks for that, really helpful.

Checkers vs chess.

Passenger vs pilot.


Expense similar as windsurfing can be waaay cheaper to buy initially and no pro lessons required (especially as you have sailed and understand centre of effort vs centre resistance, sheeting angles etc) so could teach youself -- but then later kiting is way cheaper as you don't change all your stuff 3x from beginner to expert.

Kiting better if low wind. generalisation...

Windsurfing way better if you are often the only one out (no launch buddy needed) and if you have good winter front kinda stuff going on like 30kn plus, dead onshore winds

Of course we all need to shut up (Except for SugarQube) cos he asked to hear from people who have done both. Usually windsurfing wins from those who have, but age may go against you it is a lot more physical than kiting hooked in all the time and you won't learn to gybe til you're in your late 50's so just go the easy route.

Mark _australia said..
Checkers vs chess.

Passenger vs pilot.


Expense similar as windsurfing can be waaay cheaper to buy initially and no pro lessons required (especially as you have sailed and understand centre of effort vs centre resistance, sheeting angles etc) so could teach youself -- but then later kiting is way cheaper as you don't change all your stuff 3x from beginner to expert.

Kiting better if low wind. generalisation...

Windsurfing way better if you are often the only one out (no launch buddy needed) and if you have good winter front kinda stuff going on like 30kn plus, dead onshore winds

Of course we all need to shut up (Except for SugarQube) cos he asked to hear from people who have done both. Usually windsurfing wins from those who have, but age may go against you it is a lot more physical than kiting hooked in all the time and you won't learn to gybe til you're in your late 50's so just go the easy route.

the part in bold is the only thing of any value in all of that. and yet you still feel the need to offer advice about kiting- something you know nothing about...

in case you missed it 15 years ago mark- "windsurfing has been cancelled".

most of us who have done both never go back to the pole.

Same. . . Windsurfer for over 30. ...... Took up kiting and will never look back. Easier, with progression rapid. It has its moments (self rescue etc.), but it is all part of the enjoyment. You also tend to meet more like minded as you help each other out. Get good lessons after using a training kite and once you get going and gain confidence you will understand the popularity.

Love to see the defensive reactions (not)

Last couple of times there has been a thread like this, there is a response from a few guys who have done BOTH to a very proficient level.
The majority pick windsurfing. That is what I have seen here, even if Stamp an Dave disagree.

Just a question, how long does it take to safely self launch (and land) every time in anything from 15-35kn? Just from threads I have seen here it makes it sound like it is fkn hard and dangerous. Until I raise it and then I am wrong...
I am speaking in generalisations. For a 50 y.o who wants to learn you have to admit (generally) that solo WS is safer than solo KS until at least solid internediate level after a season or two. That's all I said.

NOT hatin on y'all.

Mark, you are right that there is a danger element to kiting that is just not there in windsurfing. Maybe overcoming that additional risk is part of the challenge and reward of kiting. I'd say it took a year to be comfortable launching and landing over 30 knots with help, or a tether and 2 years to be comfortable launching and landing in strong winds without any help..people, tether or otherwise.

I do think you can get good ( say comfortable in 1-2m waves ) faster kiting than learning to wavesail from scratch. But if you just want to cruise around on a big board without surf windsurfing is more accessible. Bit like snowboarding against skiing. You'll be riding deep powder on a board a lot sooner than if you learn 2 skis.

Whatever just go for either!

Me. 52. Windsurfed , wave sailing 25 years. Proficient at an advanced level. Kited 5 years. reached to same level after 4 years.

Windsurfing , needs a lot more time on the water to get to decent , enjoyable level. Needs a lot more thought about technique and tuning . Gear is far less portable. Harder on the body in general.

Kiting , much easier to learn . Much easier on the body . Much more portAble.
Much more dangerous when it goes wrong.

I still miss having a great sail (windsurf ) In waves though. Nothing like the freedom from the lines Of the kite. Just luff and you are surfing . No matter of direction. ( generalisation. )

But I will stick with kiting because of the positives And my age.

Having been smashed many times on a windsurfer in the 80s by the combination of Trigg shore break/ no wind at water level, I always have a big smile when kiting out through the same break, well powered as the kite is above the waves.

as others have said, kiting is easier to progress with and easier on the body each session

had some great days on a windsurfer but many more kiting

I assume you've watched this:


Although I'm pretty sure this guy could surf better than us all at age 8, and then got a kite a few years later.
Still, it shows you the possibilities.

wishy said..
I assume you've watched this:


Although I'm pretty sure this guy could surf better than us all at age 8, and then got a kite a few years later.
Still, it shows you the possibilities.

Yeah wishy watched plenty of Keahi & Airton, the're excellent.
Also watched plenty of Pollakow & Kitmoller, also excellent.

Surfer62 said..






with kiting you'll be doing both in months, using the power of a kite to smash the face of a wave, big or small, is awesome

You said, you should be able to smash the face of a wave after a few months. When are you going to start?


Kenny K,
If your looking at wave riding.

Windsurfers prefered wind conditions that are side / side off.
Windsurfers wave sailors generally won't go out if theres wind coming on towards the beach, they will travel miles to find side / side off.

Kites generally like down the line conditions but still can have heaps of fun in onshore conditions. Side off is ok if your at a point break and you have an escape plan.

If you just want to mow the lawn then its which one rows your boat the most.

My 2 cents worth

glendog said..
windsurfing is ***.

Thanks glendog for your input, you're right...windsurfing is a very joyous sport

I've windsurfed for 8 years, and thus far I've only spent 2 hours on a kite board.

Why I should kite....
- Cheaper to get started
- Easier to learn
- More portable
- I could trade in my fuel guzzling commodore wagon for a hatchback
- More international travel friendly
- A fluky 12 knots is enough (a solid 15 is a minimum for Poling)
- Having kiters run rings around you while you try to water-start your Pole Board after being trashed by a wave is infuriating
- There's no second chances when pole surfing waves, once you're airborne or committed to the face of a wave there's no safety lines dangling from the sky for you to use to recover when things start going bad.

Why I don't kite...
- There's simply something about windsurfing;
- The feeling of speed as you clip across the top of chop (even back and forth sailing is fun).
- The adrenaline you get as you drop down the face of a wave or power up it and into the sky, knowing that there's no way out if you get it wrong
- The feeling of being part of your rig, not just dangling from it
- When things do go really badly wrong you'll almost always be able to roll up your rig and paddle your big floaty board back home.
- I will forever be learning to windsurf, I will never be 'good' at it, and I like it that way
- Kitesurfing's mainstream, everybody does it (with good reason)....but I like being different

That said I have no doubt that I'll buy a kite one day but I'll always have a windsurfer